TELKOM CONTRACT AND PRODUCT NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY, REFUSAL TO EXCHANGE MOBILE DEVICE

Yesterday I just took out a Telkom mobile contract at Key West Mobile Store (Huawei P20 Pro) I took this device especially for the camera as it was marketed as having the best camera.

But only a few hours after getting the device I realized I was very disappointed with the camera, marketed for it's triple camera , with 40MP but the image results in low light, at night and when zooming in are very poor. Not to mention other features (or the lack thereof) not explained to me when sighing the contract, like the fact that the phone has no headphone jack and so also can not be used with a selfie stick which is how I mostly take my photos I was also not told the device does not have a micro SD card slot to expand the memory.

I was told I had 7 days to return the phone when I signed the contract on a portable touch pad not being shown or read to in full what I was signing for I was told I would get a copy via email, which I have still not received . I thought as with any normal contract I had at least a 7 day period within which to return/exchange the device same as when buying a car, house or even clothing? First thing 9 am this morning less than 24 hours after getting the device I tried to contact the store but was re-directed to another branch as Key West branch does not take calls?

I requested someone to phone me back as I was at work. When I finished work nobody had contacted me yet so I went to the store and was assisted (if you can call it that) by Tebogo who did not even care to listen to the issues I was having and why I wanted to change the device he simply dismissed me saying once I had signed the contract they could do nothing it was a contract and it did not matter if I was unhappy with the device I had already signed.

I asked to speak to a manager or head-office anyone who could assist me but they could not get hold of the manager and did not care to try further. I was told to come back again tomorrow when the manager was there, but that she would tell me the same thing. Very quick to take my money but no customer care or after sales care what so ever. I tried to explained I did not want to cancel the contract but just wanted a different device that was more suited to my needs, but this fell on deaf ears.

I do not think that it is wrong to want a device that I am happy with after all I will be paying R520.00 x 24 months. That is R12 480.00 for I phone I do not like and am not happy with ?? The phone was opened in-store and I was showed that it turns on that is all, I was not shown the quality of the pictures or shown it can not plugin earphones etc. The device is still brand new and in mint condition.

What about the consumers rights, the right to choose your product; the right to fair and honest dealing; the right to disclosure of information; the right to fair and responsible marketing; the right to accountability by suppliers; the right to fair value, good quality; the right to fair, just and reasonable terms and conditions to customer service and good business???

Very disappointing and disheartening, I have been a Telkom client for years and never received such poor service.

Any help and or advice regarding this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Regards Eleanor